Lebanon has made notable advances in gender equality in recent years, yet the journey toward meaningful and lasting change is still riddled with challenges. The National Commission for Lebanese Women (NCLW*), established under Law 720/1998, has played a pivotal role in pushing for women’s rights reforms. However, progress has been inconsistent and often slowed by shifting political priorities.
In 2016, the Lebanese government created the Office of the Minister of State for Women’s Affairs to focus on legislative reforms and increasing women’s political participation. Despite these intentions, the office was dissolved in 2019, only to be replaced by the Ministry of State for the Economic Empowerment of Women and Youth, which was itself closed by 2020. This raises an important question: is a dedicated ministry for women’s rights essential?
The Legal Framework: Progress with Limitations
Lebanon’s Constitution guarantees equality before the law for all citizens. However, it stops short of explicitly guaranteeing gender equality, meaning women’s legal rights are not specifically addressed. While women can freely engage in economic activities, the legal framework does not ensure their equal treatment in all spheres of life.
Women in the Workforce: Advancements but Persistent Barriers
Lebanon’s Labor Law, enacted in 1946, prohibits gender-based discrimination in the workplace, and a 2000 amendment to Article 26 expanded protections. However, the law lacks penalties for violations, and hiring discrimination remains unregulated. Furthermore, women are still excluded from certain industries, such as manufacturing, mining and construction, due to restrictions outlined in Article 27 of the Labor Law.
While the 2019 amendments to the Lebanese Code of Commerce allow married women to manage businesses independently, religious courts still influence commercial law. Despite these legal advances, women still own or manage less than 9% of businesses in Lebanon, illustrating that legal reforms alone are insufficient to address the gender gap in entrepreneurship.
Lebanon's International Commitments: Gaps in Legal Reforms
Lebanon ratified CEDAW in 1997 but made reservations on several critical provisions, including equal nationality rights for women, family law and international dispute resolution. These reservations have hindered the pace of legal reforms and undermined Lebanon’s ability to fully uphold its commitment to gender equality.
Religious Influence on Personal Status Laws: Tradition vs. Equality
While Lebanon’s Constitution guarantees equality, Article 9 allows religious communities to apply their own laws on matters such as marriage, divorce and inheritance. This has led to the existence of 15 different personal status laws, creating significant disparities in women's rights based on their religious affiliation.
Domestic Violence and Social Security: Steps Toward Equality, but Challenges Remain
Lebanon made strides in addressing domestic violence with the passage of Law No. 293 in 2014, which aims to protect women and families from abuse. Yet, religious laws often take precedence in cases of conflict with secular law, leaving women without full protection. Although a new law passed in 2020 further strengthened protections, challenges related to the dominance of religious courts persist.
In 2023, Lebanon enacted a law to address gender disparities in its social security system, offering equal benefits to both men and women, though enforcement and application remain to be fully realized.
Sexual Harassment, Nationality Rights and Other Persistent Inequalities
Lebanon took a significant step forward in 2020 by criminalizing sexual harassment with Law No. 205 — one of the first in the Arab world to do so. However, the law’s focus on penalties rather than prevention leaves gaps in its implementation, as employers are not required to adopt anti-harassment policies. Victims of harassment often face the risk of job loss after reporting incidents.
Lebanese women still cannot pass their nationality to their children or foreign spouses, leaving many children stateless and without access to essential services like education and healthcare.
Moreover, Lebanon's Penal Code does not explicitly criminalize marital rape, and societal norms often subject women to harsher punishment than men for adultery, further exposing gender-based discrimination.
Looking to the Future: The Road Ahead for Gender Equality in Lebanon
Lebanon's civil society remains a strong force advocating for gender equality, with over 6,000 organizations dedicated to social issues, many of which focus on women's rights. Public campaigns and research initiatives have contributed to legislative progress. In the 2018 parliamentary elections, 113 women ran for office, a significant increase from just 12 in 2009. While six women were elected, this still reflects only modest progress.
Despite these advances, Lebanon still faces deep-seated legal and societal barriers to true gender equality. The critical question remains: will lawmakers push beyond symbolic gestures and tackle the structural inequalities that continue to hold women back? As time passes, the future of gender equality in Lebanon will depend on whether these entrenched obstacles can be dismantled and whether women’s rights will be fully realized.
Comments